Veteran broadcaster James Whale shares emotional terminal cancer update as he moves into hospice
Veteran broadcaster James Whale has provided an emotional update in his terminal cancer journey after moving into a hospice as he prepares for end of life care. The 74-year-old, who has been battling terminal kidney cancer for five years, was recently told he has just twelve weeks to live.
James' cancer has now sadly spread to over 20 tumours in his spine, brain and lungs. The Celebrity Big Brother star, who initially rose to fame in the 1980s as the host of The James Whale Radio Show, moved into a quiet eight-bed hospice near his home in Kent with his wife Nadine Lamont-Brown, earlier this week.
James, whose impressive career spans over five decades, first beat kidney cancer in 2000 after being given a 50% chance of survival, but revealed five years ago that the disease had sadly returned. Now into week seven of his life expectancy prognosis, the star has heartbreakingly said: "I'm not me anymore."
Speaking on his podcast Tales of the Whales alongside his co-presenter wife Nadine, the pair candidly spoke about James' deteriorating health.
The beloved TV personality said he is finding it difficult to breathe, think or talk and added that his hearing is also going downhill.
He revealed that his speech has been affected too and that he can be very forgetful while also suffering with the pain of sore pressure sores.
During the emotional recording, he told listeners: "I can't breathe, I can't think, I can't talk.
"Anyway. Good morning. Welcome to Tales of the Whales, our weekly podcast. I have terminal 5 cancer. Can you get 5?"
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He continued: "Could I thank everybody for getting in touch and wanting to meet up.
"I'm not being rude when I make it difficult to get touched up. I mean... in touch."
Nadine replied:'You're getting quite tired, so from next week, we're restricting visitors to just very close friends and family."
He added: 'The most tiring thing I found… I still can't hear very well, which is more frustrating than anything else.
"I've become very slow in my speech and then forgetful and everything else."
Talking about his pressure sores, he said: 'I'm tootling along, which is all you can do really, trying to get my breathing sorted and the mark on my bum.'
Humble as ever, he asked: "People have to go through a lot worse, don't they? Do they?"
James concluded: "Anyway. I don't feel I can go on much more... The other thing is, my energy levels have gone completely.
"So I wish everybody well, and let us hope we go through these phases as quickly as we can."
The dad-of-two recently celebrated what is thought to be his last birthday, surrounded by his loved ones.
The Talk TV host revealed his long-running programme could soon be coming to an end back in May as he reaches the final stages of his cancer battle.
As one of the country's most admired radio personalities, James has had a remarkable career.
In 2023 he received the first ever TRIC Recognition Award for his outstanding work and last year he was made an OBE for services to broadcasting and charity.
He's also helped countless others too, having launched the James Whale Fund for Kidney Cancer in 2006, now known as Kidney Cancer UK, which is the nation's leading specialist charity of its kind.
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